Improvement in metallic columns



FRDERICK H.. SMITH. Improvement in Metallic Columns.

Patented Nev. 28,1871.

I ill/611257".

UNITED STATES FREDERICK H. SMITH, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN METALLIC COLUMNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,432, dated November28, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, FREDERICK H. SMITH, of

I the city and county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Columns for engineering, architectural, and other purposes, of which the following isa specification:

My invention consists of a column of which the exterior, or bothexterior and interior, is composed of angle-irons arranged,substantially as hereinafter described, so as to produce a hollow columnhaving an exterior corrugated surface. The column is composed eitherwholly of rolled metal or with an exterior of rolled metal, and may beformed of iron, steel, or other metal.

Some of the advantages of such a column are: First, its surfaces beingcorrugated are therefore stiffer in all directions than those of a plaincolumn, and requires less riveting per foot at each joint. Second, itcan be made up in either the smallest or largest sections required inpractice by simply increasing or diminishing the number of angle-barsused, the bars themselves remaining of such small size as to be easilyrolled and handled. Third, the metal used is cheaper than that used inother wroughtqnetal columns, because the bars used in the latter are, sofar as I am aware, invariably made of triple-rolled iron; whereas, theordinary angle-bars out of which my improved column is made are onlydouble rolled, the diiference in cost in favor of my sys tem being fullyone cent per pound or twenty dollars per ton. Fourth, an increase ineconomy over other columns now in use, owing to the fact that the outlayfor rolls required to make a complete assortment of angle-bars is muchless than that required to make segments with ever-varyin g angles andthicknesses, as required in other columns. Fifth, the facility withwhich it may be put up, and the ease with which the materials of whichit is composed may be procured, inasmuch as the angle-iron is a standardarticle of manufacture an d can be bought or ordered at any iron-dealersestablishment.

To enable others to understand and use my invention, I will now proceedto describe several modes in which the same is or may be carried intoefl'ect, by reference to the accompanying drawin g, in which Figure l isa transverse section, and Fig. 2 an elevation of a star column made inaccordance with myinvention. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of asimilar column made with a less number of angles than the one shown inFigs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4is a transverse section of a column havingsubstantially a rectangular or square section.

The exterior of the hollow metallic column in Fig. 1 is composed ofangle-bars A of rolled iron, steel, or other metal placed together inthe manner shown so as to form a corrugated or star column, with thepoints a about equidistant from the center or axis of the column. Thebars are sustained in this position by interior angle-bars B, laid backto back with the exterior bars, as shown, the interior bars being placedand fitted snugly in the angle or space intervening between the interioropposite sides of each pair of exterior bars A. The column when thus putup is riveted by means of rivets or bolts (3 passing through theadjacent sides of each pair of exterior bars and the interveninginterior bar; or the riveting or bolting may take place from the insideto the outside of the column, as shown in Fig. 4, though I prefer thearrangement first described, as it permits the riveting or bolting to bewholly on the exterior of the column. The interior bars may be of rolledmetal, formed each into an angle-iron of suitable shape for the purposefor which it is designed, and extending the whole length of the columnor they may be made in short pieces, so as to act as mere thimbles forthe rivets, which short pieces or thimbles in each angle may be placedat suitable distances from each other, with spaces intervening betweenthem throughout the length of the column. In the latter case they may bemade of cast-iron or other material and this construct-ion of theinterior bars is represented in Figs. 1,2, and 3. In Fig. 3 the columnis a star-column, so-called, like that in Fig. 1, but with a less numberof corrugations or points. .lts construction will be readily understoodfrom the description above given of the column shown in Figs. 1 and 2.In Fig. 4 I have represented, in further elucidation of my invention, acorrugated column having substantially a rectangular or square form incrosssection. This column is composed of interior and exteriorangle-irons or rolled-metalv b'ars placed back to back, as shown, so asto break joint, and so arranged that the external points or projectingangles on each face shall all be in one right line, each. corner of thecolumn being squared and finished by means of two angle-irons, A Afitted to each other and to the interior angle-bars which meet at thecorner, in the manner represented in the drawing. In this column all therivets or bolts pass through from the interior to the exterior of thecolumn, excepting the rivets or bolts which hold together the cornerpieces A A at each corner, the rivetin in this instance being effectedwholly upon the exterior of the column.

It is unnecessary to describe the way in which a column thus constructedmay be put up, as this will be readily understood by those skilled inthe art to which my invention pertains without further explanation, asthe bars, after being suitably formed and fitted for any desiredsection, can be punched or drilled and bound upon a mandrel or core orotherwise held together or in position until the riveting or boltingoperation is completed.

The above examples are sufficient to indicate the manner in which myinvention may be carried into effect.

It is manifest that the arrangement of the angle-bars may be varied toproduce columns of other sections than those represented, and I wish itto be understood that I do not limit myself to the forms which I haveherein shown in illustration of my invention; but

Having described my invention and the mancomposed of an gle-bars laidback to back so as to break joint, and united substantially as hereinshown and described.

3. The combination, in a hollow metallic column, of external wroughtmetal angle-bars placed together so as to form a corrugated surface, asdescribed, and internal cast-metal thinlbles placed in the angles formedby the junction of the bars and united with the same by riveting orbolting, substantially as shown and set forth.

4:. The manufacture of hollow metallic corrugated columns of angle-barsor angle-irons, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification beforetwo subscribing witnesses. v

FREDERICK H. SMITH.

Witnesses:

G. E. SANesroN, Tnos. M. BEADENKOPF.

